Concrete-distributing apparatus



A.R.REED

CONCRETE DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS Dec 29, 1%25- 2 SheetsSheet 1 Fileg g?t. 21, 1924 WITNESSES Dec. 29,1925- 1,567,385 A. R. REED CONCRETE DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 21, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 29, 1925.

ALEXANDER R. REED, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

CONCRETE-DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS.

Application filed October 21, 1924; Serial No. 744,954.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER R. REED, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Concrete-Distributing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for handling concrete. More particularly it relates to apparatus for hoisting moist concrete in an elevator shaft, and automatically discharging it outside of the elevator shaft at a predetermined level.

The objects of the invention are to pro vide apparatus that may be attached to and used in connection with a standard elevator such as ordinarily used in the construction of buildings, and which will by cooperation of the moving elevator and other parts to be described automatically discharge a load of concrete upon arrival of the elevator at a certain predetermined position in its shaftv A further object is to automatically discharge the concrete entirely outside of the elevator shaft, quickly, and without manual labor. Restated, an object is to provide apparatus that may be readily at tached to and detached from a standard construction elevator and its frame work, capable of receiving and transporting semiliquid concrete to a predetermined height, and there automatically discharging it outside of the elevator shaft. Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those familiar with building construction and concrete distribution from an inspection of the accompanying drawings and a reading of the following specification.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. l is a partial side elevation showing an elevator and its tower with the apparatus of this invention in'position as it is shortly before its discharge of concrete therefrom; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but with the parts in position for discharging the concrete; Fig. 8 is a plan view of the parts as shown in Fig. 2; and Fig. l is a partial front elevation with the parts in position as shown in Fig. 2.

In constructing modern buildings, and the like, it is customary first to put up the steel frame work. The steel girders are ordinarily lifted to position by means of derricks. For hoisting the bricks and other material for forming the floors and walls of the building, and the concrete for use in the floors, or for pouring around the beams and girders, it is customary to erect some form of hoist or elevator. This usually requires the construction of an open shaft from the top to the bottom of the building, with a guideway therein. This is generally done by a series of timbers forming uprights and cross braces, arranged in the form of an open square shaft. Such timbers are expensive, the labor of erection is costly, and there is a large loss of material and labor in tearing them down. From their temporary character such elevators are of no permanent value in the building itself. Removable structural steel elevator shafts are sometimes used, but these are also expensive to erect and to remove.

In buildings where a substantial amount of concrete is to be used at various heights throughout, special forms of concrete-handling apparatus have been provided for taking the semi-liquid concrete from the mixer, which ordinarily is positioned on the ground, to the particular floor or elevation at which it is to be poured or otherwise placed. But such concrete-lifting devices as have heretofore been used are not useful for any other purpose. That is to say, they are not so arranged as to have been capable of carrying bricks, lumber, etc., to upper floors of the structure being built.

0n the other hand, the elevators as heretofore constructed for carrying the materials just named to upper floors of the building have not been adapted for transporting concrete with economic advantage. That is to say, such elevators have comprised simply a movable platform or floor hoisted in its shaft from bottom to top of the building. Concrete, if raised by such an apparatus, has necessarily been wheeled onto the elevator floor in wheelbarrows or buggies, and when the elevator has reached the floor at which the concrete was to be used, the wheelbarrows or buggies have to be manually rolled off again. Such a double transfer by hand required the services of a number of laborers, and required an appreciable amount of time at both the loading and unloading of the elevator.

In very large buildings it has been customary to build two hoists, one being a special concrete-carrying and distributing lift, and the other an elevator consisting of a movable platform, for transporting ma terials other than concrete.

The present invention is intended to provide apparatus that may be used with a standard form of 'temporary construction elevator, the part peculiar to concrete handling being attachable and detachable with respect to the elevator and its shaft, and portions of the apparatus being adapted to secure. automatic discharge of the concrete upon its arrival at the desired elevation. This does away with all labor at the point of discharge, does away with the time lost incidentto stopping the elevator While wheelbarrows of concrete are removed therefrom, and empty wheelbarrows returned to it, and in addition greatly increases the capacity of the elevator for carrying concrete.

Referring to the drawings, in Fig. 1 there illustrated. a section of a steel elevator tower such as is now being used in building construction. It is of knockdown character, the four uprights being formed of tubes 1, standing end upon end, and connected by tubular sleeves or clamps 2. which embrace the abutting ends of two adjoining sections of the tubing. To these sleeves are attached diagonal braces 3 and horizontal tubular girts 4, by means of removable bolts 5. Track or guide members 6 are vertically positioned on the inside of this tower, for the purpose of positioning and guiding the elevator platform 7. Any suitable elevator hoisting means is provided, and that is not here illustrated, since its construction is not particular to the invention, and is Well known to persons familiar with building operation. 1 do not claim anything with respect to the elevator, or its tower, per se.

Upon the elevator platform 7 is positioned a'concrete ladle or bucket 10, mounted by means of oppositely disposed trunnions 11, in bearing members 12, carried by three leg members 13, which are bolted at their feet to cross timbers 14, adapted to seat on and be attached to the elevator platform by bolts 15.

The trunnions 11 have non-circular outer terminal portions 16 to which are rigidly atcached trip arms 17 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1.

The bucket 10 is pivotally supported by Ihe trunnions and bearings above described, and is eccentrically mounted thereon, so that normally a portion of its weight rests upon a cross brace 18, extending between two of the oppositely oisposed leg members 13, as illustrated in Fig. 1. This brace 18 normally holds the bucket in level position, and prevents its tilting in a rearward position from the position shown in Fig. 1. It is en- ,ber 22.

tirely free, however, to be tilted in the opposite direction to the position as shown in Fig. 2.

A chute 20 is rigidly mounted by attachment to two of the leg members 13 at its upper end, by means of a cross member 21, and its lower end seats upon a cross angle mem- This chute is so positioned that when the bucket 10 is tilted, it will discharge directly into this chute. The lower edge of the chute 20 is positioned so that it will just clear the cross braces of the elevator shaft.

At a proper elevation there are attached to opposite girt members 4 detachable clamps 30, adapted to be secured to the girt by means of removable clamping bolts 31. To the underside of these clamps are attached two angle irons 32 which extend across the elevator shaft, between the oppositely positioned clamps, as shown at the top of Fig. 4. At intermediate portions, near each end, these cross bars 32 have holes adapted to receive bolts 33, and these bolts retain in adjusted position between the cross members 32 loop members 34, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. These loops have regularly spaced perforations 35, adapted to receive the bolts 33, and the loops being of considerable length, their lower ends maybe positioned at any desired distance beneath the cross bars 32, in obvious These loops 34 are positioned in the respective paths of the tilt-arms 17 and are adapted to engage those arms and tilt the bucket when and as the elevator lifts it above the point of contact of the arms and loops. The bucket is so constructed and mounted that after it it is tilted by this means a short distance the force of gravity will throw it on over and the contents thereof will be completely and quickly discharged into the chute 20.

movable auxiliary chute 40 is mounted between angle iron side members 41, to the outer ends of which are attached cables 42, which are in turn connected by a yoke 43, a single cable 44, extending over a pulley to a weight 46. The pulley is supported by a hook member 47, which may be suspended by any suitable means, as will be obvious. The weight is sufiicient normally to hold chute 40 in horizontal position as shown in Fig. 1.

Sleeve members are detachably mounted upon the uprights 1 these sleeve members being composed of cooperating similar semicircular halves, clamped together by means of bolts 51, extending through meetdanges 52. A circular cross bar 53 ex tends through the flanges 52 of the sleeve members and is retained in position by means of terminal nuts 54, as illustrated in llemovablesleeve members 55 are member 53 extends.

positioned upon the cross member 53,and are retained in position by set screws 56, forming limiting abutments for the sides of the movable chute 40, through which the cross The chute 40 is thus pivotally mounted upon the member 53, and is free to swing in a vertical plane thereon, but is held against lateral displacement.

The side members 41 are extended inward beyond the supporting rod 53, into the elevator shaft, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Members of any suitable form are mounted upon the base of the ladle supporting structure, in position to contact with the lower edges of the inner extensions 61 of the members 41. These extensions 61 are preferably detachable pieces, attached to the chute by bolts 62, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Consequently they may be removed without dismounting the entire chute a0. and thus all projection into the shaft quickly removet so that the elevator may be operated without affecting the chute 40. The auxiliary chute l0 is limited as to upward travel of its outer end to the horizontal position shown in Fig. 1. That is the normal position of this auxiliary chute, and results in the inner extension 61 of l the carrying members of this chute projecting into the elevator shaft, and into the path of travel of the members 60. These extensions 61 are so positioned that they do not contact with the ladle 10, or the arms 1.7 in any position thereof.

The operation of the device is as follows: A concrete mixer on the ground floor is preferably so positioned that the contents may be discharged directly into the ladle 10. When it is filled the elevator is hoisted in normal manner. As previously explained, normally the weight 46 holds the auxiliary chute in the position shown in Fig. 1, wherein all of it lies outside of the elevator shaft, except for the projecting angle ends 61, which extend across the path of the members 60. When the elevator arrives at the point illustrated in Fig. 1, its further upward travel causes the extensions 61 to be moved upward, forcibly lifting the weight 46 and depressing the outer end of this auxiliary chute. As this is done the lowermost portion of the auxiliary chute is caused to swing inward on an arc of which the member 53 is the centre, and this brings the inner and lower portion 4-0 of the chute 4O inside the elevator shaft and underneath the edge of the elevator floor, to the position shown in Fig. 2. It will be observed that this movement of the auxiliary shaft takes place before the tilting arms 17 of the ladle come into contact with the loops 34. Shortly after the auxiliary chute has been moved inward so that its inner portion 40 is beneath and inside the lowermost edge of the permanent chute 20, the rocking a his 17 of the ladle come into contact with the loops 84,

which are so adjusted that the bucket is tilted to discharging position slightly before the elevator reaches its uppermost position, illustrated in Fig. 2.

The upward travel of the elevator is stopped by the operator at this point, and the contents of the bucket are thus delivered through the chute 20, and through the chute 40, upon the floor F, or into any desired receptacle or distributing hopper that may be positioned at that point.

The emptying of the concrete at the top is thus effected automatically and almost instantly, and the elevator and ladle are then returned to the ground floor for a refilling.

and hoisting.

hen all of the concrete desired for any particular floor or any particular elevation of the building has been poured or has been delivered to that level, the sleeves 52 are removed from the uprights 1, and lowered, or raised as the case may be to the next level at which it is desired to deliver the concrete. Likewise, the sleeve members 30 are removed to an upper or lower cross girt,

and the 100])8 34 are adjusted to proper elevation for discharging the concrete, as above described. After all of the concrete has been poured, or at any time when other use of the elevator is desired, the carrying ladle and apparent. Exactly the same elevator without modification is then available for lifting all other kinds of material to any floor of the building, and there is avoided any necessity for building two shafts, or two apparatuses, one for hoisting concrete and the other for hoisting materials other than concrete.

The apparatus is very simple in construction, and the same parts may be used for any particular form of elevator, being readily attachable and detachable by ordinary workmen.

Although in the present specification the description is of the application of the parts described to a standard removable tubular elevator tower construction, it will be understood that by suitable modification of the clamping parts, or attaching members, without change of principle or operation, the same mechanism may be attached to and used with a wooden or other elevator tower construction.

I claim:

1. The combination with a construction elevator and its tower of a removable rockable concrete bucket and a supporting frame therefor mounted on the elevator, automatic means to tilt the bucket to discharge position upon arrival of the elevator at a preacte-rmined height, and means normally outside the elevator shaft adapted to receive the concrete discharged by tilting of the bucket and to carry it outside of the elevator shaft.

2. The combination with a construction elevator and its tower of a removable rockable concrete bucket and a supporting frame therefor mounted on the elevator, automatic vertically adjustable means to tilt the bucket to discharge position upon arrival of the elevator at a predetermined height, a chute normally positioned entirely outside the elevator shaft, and means operated by movement of the elevator to bring said chute into position to receive the contents of the bucket as it is tilted.

3. The combination with a construction elevator and its tower, of a concrete bucket rockably mounted on the elevator, achute positioned on the elevator in position to receive the contents of the'bucket when it is tilted, a supplementary chute normally retained entirely outside the elevator shaft, means automatically operated by movement of the elevatorto bring the supplementary chute into a position inside the shaft and beneath the first chute, and means operated by movement of the elevator to tilt the bucket to discharge position upon arrival of the elevator at a predetermined height.

4. The combination with a construction elevator and its tower, of a concrete bucket rockably mounted on the elevator, a chute positioned on the elevator in position to receive the contents of the bucket when it is tilted, said chute being positioned to clear the elevator tower members, a supplementary chute pivotally mounted and normally supported in position entirely outside the elevator shaft, means automatically operated by movement of the elevator to bring the supplementary chute into inclined position inside the shaft and beneath the firstchute, and means operated by movement of the elevator to tilt the bucket to cause it to discharge its contents upon arrival of the elevator at a predetermined height.

5. The combination with a construction elevator and its tower, of a concrete bucket rockably mounted on the elevator, a chute positioned on the elevator in position to receive the contents of the bucket when it is tilted, said chute being positioned to clear the elevator tower members, a supplementary chute pivotally mounted and normally supported in horizontal position entirely outside the elevator shaft, means automatically operated by movement of the elevator to bring the supplementary chute into inclined position inside the shaft and beneath the first chute, and means operated by movement of the elevator to tilt the bucket to cause it to discharge its contents upon arrival of the elevator at a predetermined height, said means being positioned and adapted to cause menses discharge of the bucket only after movement of the supplementary chute into position beneath the elevator.

6. Apparatus for hoisting and discharging concrete comprising a structural tower forming an elevator shaft, an elevator adapted to move therein, a removable bucket mounted on the elevator, said bucket being adapted to be tilted into discharge position, vertically adjustable means attached to the elevator tower and adapted to automatically tilt the bucket into discharge position upon its arrival at a predetermined height, a pivotally mounted chute normally positioned entirely outside of the elevator shaft, and automatic means to move said chute into position inside the elevator shaft to receive the contents of the bucket when it is tilted.

7. Apparaus for hoisting and discharging concrete comprising a structural tower forming an elevator shaft, an elevator mounted therein, a bucket mounted on the elevator and adapted to be tilted into discharge position, automatic means to tilt the bucket into discharge posit-ion upon its arrival at a predetermined position, said tilting element being detachable from and vertically adjustable in the tower, a chute normally positioned entirely outside of the elevator shaft, automatic means to move said chute into position inside the elevator shaft to receive the contents of the bucket when it is tilted, and means to move the chute out of the elevator shaft into normal position as and when the elevator is lowered from its uppermost position.

8. Apparatus for hoisting and delivering concrete comprising a structural elevator tower, an elevator adapted to be operated therein, a bucket adapted to receive and carry concrete, a frame carrying said bucket and adapted to be removably attached to the elevator, the bucket being rockably mounted in the frame, tilting arms attached to the bucket and adapted to move it into discharging position, a fixed chute carried by the said frame and positioned to receive the contents of the bucket when it is moved to discharging position, members positioned in the elevator shaft and adapted to contact with the rocking arms of the bucket and to remove it to discharging position upon upward movement of the said elevator after contact of the said arms and members, a pivotally mounted chute normally positioned entirely outside of the elevator shaft, and members extending from the movable chute into the elevator shaft and adapted to contact with the elevator to cause the movable-chute to move into the elevator shaft beneath the first mentioned chute upon upward movement of the elevator after contact with the said extensions from the movable chute.

9. Apparatusfor hoisting and delivering concrete comprising a structural elevator tovver an elevator adapted to be operated therein, a bucket adapted to receive and carry concrete, a frame carrying said bucket and adapted to be removably attached to the elevator, the bucket being rockably mounted in the frame, tilting arms attached to the bucket and adapted to move it into discharging position, a fixed chute carried by the said frame and positioned to receive the contents of the bucket When it is moved to discharging position, members positioned in the elevator shaft and adapted to contact With the rocking arms of the bucket and to remove itto discharging position upon up- 15 Ward movement of the said elevator after contact of the said arms and members, a pivotally mounted chute normally positioned entirely outside of the elevator shaft, yielding means adapted to normally hold the movable chute in position entirely outside of the elevator shaft, and members extending from the movable chute into the elevator shaft and adapted to contact with the elevator to cause the movable chute to move into the elevator shaft beneath the first mentioned chute upon upward movement of the elevator after contact with the said eXten sions from the movable chute.

In testimony whereof, I sign my name.

ALEXANDER R. REED. 

